Twice a year I attend Rhea Lana's. I am able to buy a season's worth of clothes for Z and spend 1/4 of the price on name brand clothes. Actually, I really haven't spent any money since he was born. How, do you ask? Well, I resell everything I bought and make what I spent. Revolving closet??? To attend the event early, I volunteer 5 hours of my time. Yes, it is worth it!!! See the clothes......

See the people................

Since I bought so many outfits I needed room to store them.So I rearranged his closet.
Before......
Before.....

Before..........

After.....
Remember this? I paid $3 at Bargain's Galore on 64!

Baskets for stuff he doesn't need to play with.

THe clothes are still his summer wear. I haven't washed his winter wear yet!

First Days of School for my kiddos

My beautiful babies!!! See how sleepy they look???? Ha! First day back!

I cannot believe my baby started Kindergarten! This is his Open House.
My sleeping Kindergartner on his FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

He is very excited!! Will it last.............Fake smile.........

I took him to his first day of school. I am a teacher so my class also started this day. We were early and the principal was tapping on his watch saying your too early. I said I am a teacher and I just wanted to wake him the first day. He asked if Z would ride the bus from now on and I said of course. (Our school system is awesome. They pick up all the teachers kids from different school and take them to their parents school. So he will ride the bus before and after school everyday.)
Walking into the building looking for his classroom!
Putting his backpack in his cubby.

Checking out the class turtles.

Giving his teacher all the papers we had to fill out...good grief! I have a whole new respect for parents!!!! Mrs. G is AWESOME!!!!! We prayed for Z to get a lovingly strict teacher to keep her thumb on him. God answered our prayers!

Starting his morning work.

It rained on his first day. We still got pictures but they were no very clear.
Yeah...he survived his first day.

An update.......Z has been in school 13 days. He has pulled 4 cards! We appreciate everything Mrs. G has done. She is very patient because our child is very....well....he is spoiled rotten and a drama king. We are working on this, however, having 2 teenage sisters making 4 "adults" to care for you...explains a lot!!!!!

My Classroom and Bargains Galore on 64

Welcome to my classroom!!!! As you will see it is decorated as a farm! I love it!!!!

This box was cardboard brown. I painted it white then painted the drawers with chalkboard paint (since I change things soooooo often).

My cubbies that our very talented custodian built! My computer area!

View from my door.

More cubbies and a cabinet (another Matt original).

My library is housed it that blue cubbie thingy. Books on tape are on the shelf and all my Science materials are organized by unit in the baskets.

Reading area for my students.

Front of the classroom. View is from my desk. Those are my Math manipulatives and centers.

Hutch...another great thrift store find! It houses my printer, paper, stickers, books, supplies, etc. I took the doors off so I could get to the storage easier.

The back of my desk area. My papers, files, and fridge are hidden or just organized well!!!

This is my favorite...an old tool box turned into a paper towel and kleenex holder.

A Bargains Galore find....the shelf was $1!!!! It houses my Reading Lab supplies very well!!!!

My desk! That tool box is also from Bargains Galore it was .75! It houses my paper clips, notepads and sticky notes!

My writing center! Another tool box from BG. It was $1 and will be the container the students turn in their ticket work to!

Close up of the shelf....

Last but not least....a parrot from BG $1....for our Hawaii welcome unit.

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I finally experienced Bargains Galore on 64!!! I have lived in Arkansas and never shopped. In fact, I avoided town during this time. My mom invited me and off we went!! Things you will need if you shop this amazing sale.

Shoe holder $2, book .25, 2 pictures (wooden frames) .50

2 baskets with a sticker price of $8 each...I paid $1 for both, glass jars-big one was $3 I paid $2, small jars were .25 each

Round boxes $2.50 each, 2 videos .25 each, wooden chair .25, salt and pepper shakers $1, purse .50

healing, organizing, and preparing

I have been so busy the past few weeks. School starts soon and I need to get my room ready for 20 2nd graders to enter my room Wednesday morning. TO add to all that....I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand. (Yes, I am right handed!!!) Anyhoo, my blog has suffered. Soon my hand will be back to normal, my room ready for students, and life will have structure again! Here is a sample of my life.....
This was on the free table in the hallway! It was cardboard brown. I spray painted it white and then painted the drawer fronts with chalkboard paint. I love to organize especially when it is FREE!!!

Lake fun

School is almost here. It's a bittersweet thing. My baby graduates from school and my other baby starts school!! I will be crying all year! We managed to get a few more adventures in such as the lake.

When we go to the lake to swim this is what hubby does........
Metal detect of course. And he always has helpers.......
This is what I do....read decorating books!!!!!!!!
As I watch the kids swim!
Maybe we can get one more lake day in before I have to go back!

Staging a house for my parents

Are you ready for a VERY long post with LOTS of pictures??? Hope so!!!! My parents asked me to help stage their house so they can list it! Too much house for them to keep up with. Since I LOVE redoing for little or no money I jumped at the chance. It only took me 2 days, 1 visit in the hot tub and 3 pain pills!

Den before......
den after..........


Opps...it's sideways! I moved the wingback chairs from Living Room to den to create a reading area.She had little art work to use....so I had to get creative. No personal pics allowed is the first rule. I used front covers of magazines and framed them in old frames.

The tv viewing area is across from the reading corner (used to have the desk). Looks a little busy but in person it is quite nice.
This is an akward area! We moved the piano to this wall to bring attention to the stone wall that houses the fireplace. Then the mirror on top of the dresser is placed on top of the piano. More framed pics from magazines, a tree limb from the yard and a spray painted lamp. The bench is from outside and is now an area to sit and take your shoes off.
More framed "art". Nature from outside framed and on the wall. CHEAP...FREE!
Living room before..........
Sorry it is so blurry!!!
Living room after......the new dining room!!!!!!
We moved the hutch from the kitchen and used her love of birdhouses in this room.
The table with a plant and candles on mirrors. See the birdhouses in the plant?

Buffet table with a lamp and glass vases.

Bookcase revamped! White accessories on the top shelf, books and birdhouses on the other shelves. One chair fro reading. (Mom loves this area because she has her devotion and coffe every morning. She can also see deer and the trees from this amazing window.)

The fireplace. I added the old window as a focal point and heighth! Some greenery, wooden candles, old clock, and oil lamps.
Side view of fireplace.Hallway before....
Lots of family photos and nothing to grab you at the end of the hall.

Hallway after........
Now it grabs you! That is a pillowcase in the fram and some greenery on a table. My plan is to get big canvas and let each grandkid paint a self protrait to hang here.

Closeup of the pillowcase art.Kitchen before......
BUSY!! Moved the big table into the new dining room.
kitchen after........
New round table from outside. Used a sheet as a tablecloth to cover the lovely legs...ha!


More magazine art work. It matches a painting on the other wall...mutted colors, old world feel.
Organized coffee area!
New tea nook.Guest bedroom before.......
guest bedroom after.........
This is the only room in the house with family pics! Had to give her some to look at!

guest room #2 before.........
This is known as the dumping ground and playroom for the grandkids. Blank wall that will house mom's desk.

guest room #2 after...now and office/guest room
Now it is more of an office. The bed is staged to look like a daybed or couch. Toys are in the closet and toy box.


Guest bathroom after...(didn't get a before shot)


Well....there you have it! I loved every minute of it!!!! I would quit my day job TOMORROW if I could make enough money doing this! I can dream....can't I????

The best part is...she spent $20 on a few accessories from flea markets. Not bad for a whole house stage!!!!!!